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Kids to Parks Day

Due to COVID-19, Kids to Parks Day, which was scheduled this year for May 16th, has unfortunately been cancelled. HOWEVER…

National Park Trust is taking the 10th anniversary of Kids to Parks Day digital and instead is celebrating May 16, 2020, as Parks to Kids Day — bringing a much-needed infusion of the outdoors to kids and families as they isolate at home and practice social distancing. Join them for this virtual celebration and bring parks home on this special day. To get started, you can download their ParkPassport app for iPhone and Android, developed in partnership with Blue Star Families. There are more than 500 virtual resources featured; you can even earn Junior Ranger badges! For more information on resources designed to bring parks to kids, click here.

Linden Parks and Recreation has put together a list of different activities and resources for families to utilize during COVID-19.

Visit parks, museums have all sorts of virtual adventures and do fun and interesting activities right from home.

Parks

Aquariums

Virtual Reality & 360 Degree Fun

Museums

Zoos

Projects, Great Reading, Activities, Other Live Cams & More

Union County Parks to Re-Open on Limited Basis with Social Distancing, May 2

Union County, NJ – Union County parks will partially re-open beginning at dawn on Saturday, May 2, for limited and passive activities only, in accordance with statewide restrictions issued by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. The County’s two golf courses will open next week, after routine maintenance is conducted.

“Union County parks will re-open under guidelines that are consistent with the statewide plan, which provides for residents to benefit from healthy outdoor activities while diligently observing precautions against spreading or contracting COVID-19,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

“As a reminder, the virus does not disappear outside,” Mirabella added.

“Please be safe, and help save lives by observing the six-foot social distance guideline and other rules for visiting County parks during this time.”

Union County parks will open on the following basis:

  1. All group activities, including picnics and other gatherings remain prohibited.
  2. Only individual activities are permitted, such as walking, jogging, bicycling, and fishing. For these activities, individuals may be accompanied by family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners.
  3. Park visitors must stay on marked paths and observe signage for social distancing.
  4. Park visitors are encouraged to wear masks.
  5. The following facilities remain closed until further notice:
    • Restrooms
    • Picnic areas
    • Athletic fields
    • Playgrounds and exercise stations
    • Trailside Nature & Science Center
    • Warinanco Sports Center
    • Watchung Stable
    • Echo Lake and Warinanco dog parks

Visitors are advised to avoid congested areas. When using pathways and trails give way to others, in order to maintain a six-foot social distance.

Visitors are also advised to observe other COVID-19 preventive measures including: wash hands frequently, do not touch face, cover coughs and sneezes with tissue or elbow, do not go out if sick, stay away from sick people, and use a face mask for additional protection.

Park visitors please note: Stay on marked trails in order to preserve fragile native habitat in County parks. The taking of plants and other wildlife is prohibited. Share paved paths by keeping to the right unless passing others. Bicycles are permitted only on paved paths. Dogs must be kept on leash. All trash must be carried out where receptacles are full or unavailable.

– – – – – –

TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 133, reopening state parks and golf courses, and restoring the authority of county governments to determine whether county parks will be open or closed. The order takes effect at sunrise on Saturday, May 2. 

Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Providing Critical Short-Term Support for Renters

Additional Informational Resources for Renters, Homeowners, and Landlords Now Available

TRENTON – To provide additional options to tenantswho are struggling financially as result of COVID-19, Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 128, allowing tenants to direct their landlords to use their security deposits to offset rent or back rent. 

“We recognize the anxiety that so many are feeling about looming rent payments, and during this emergency renters should have the ability to utilize their security deposit to help them stay in their place of residence,” said Governor Murphy. “While this action does not resolve the broader financial concerns of New Jerseyans, this will provide critical short-term support as the first of the month approaches. My Administration will continue working with the housing community and federal government to develop long-term solutions to this crisis.”

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Corona Testing Site Information

This post contains all testing site related updates.

Holmdel PNC Bank Arts Center

Open to those who live within 50-mile radius of the site. This site and the Bergen County Community College site (below) are alternating the days upon which they operate. 

Bergen County Community College

Open to those who live within 50-mile radius of the site. This site and the Holmdel PNC Bank Arts Center site (above) are alternating the days upon which they operate. 

Kean University on Morris Avenue in Union

Open to Union County Residents, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am – 4pm. Up to 72 hours for test results. Free testing is available to all Union County residents who wish to be tested, whether or not they are experiencing symptoms. You can now make an appointment online here. You must have proof of NJ Residency IDs when visiting the testing site.

COVID-19 Related Legislation

This post contains updates with relevant COVID-19 related legislation.

Click here to see The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health through Public Health Flyer.

Click here to see all press releases from Governor Murphy’s office.

  • Schools will stay closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. 
  • The Governor’s “The Stay at Home Order” Executive Order states that if you do not need to go out, then please stay home. If you have to leave your home, then please practice the 6-foot social distancing directive.
  • All non-essential businesses are now closed, which include (but are not limited to) restaurants, bars, theaters, hair salons, spas, nail parlors, tattoo parlors malls, aquariums, museums (and in Union County, Adult Daycare Centers). Restaurants located in a mall with an outside separate entrance are able to provide pick-up service for ordered meals.
  • As of May 22, 2020, some businesses have been allowed to open. Click here for that information.
  • Call 211 for updates or text your Zip Code to 898211 and updates will be sent to your phone. 
  • Deadlines for the following have been extended: 
    • OPRA requests
    • Building permits 
    • City budget 
    • NJ State’s deadline to file income tax extended to July 15, 2020.
  • $15 million was approved to assist food banks.
  • Public bodies can now meet electronically and give electronic involvement to the public through email, video, etc.
  • Expanding technology for Board of Educations and students in addition to other school related legislation.
  • School districts will be credited 180 days for virtual learning.
  • A bill regarding employee paid time off so they won’t use sick/vacation time.
  • Governor Murphy announced that decisions regarding the reopening of schools in New Jersey  will not be made until April 17th at the earliest.
  • The NJ Homestead Rebate for residential owned homes is rescinded for 2020. 

New Method to Contact the Department of Labor

The Department of Labor created a new web portal that allows New Jersey residents to contact the Department of Labor directly. This is a helpful tool for residents who have questions about their applications. To submit a message, residents must go here and follow the instructions below:

Current Union County Hospitalization Data

As of the date of this post, there are 7,200 people currently hospitalized in Union County. Of those:

  • 1,980 are in critical care.
  • 1,570 are on ventilators.

745 people have been discharged. Discharges have outpaced admissions for the last several days, but as per the Governor’s office, we need to see a sustained precipitous drop before we can even consider reopening.

Governor Murphy and Commissioner Caride Announce Expansion of Payment Relief for Student Loan Borrowers

“Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride announced today that the state has secured relief options with private student loan servicers to expand on the protections the federal government granted to federal student loan borrowers. These new options stand to benefit an estimated 200,000 New Jerseyans with privately held student loans.”

For the full press release, please click here.

Wait, am I on the right website?

Dear Linden Residents,

Yes! You are on the City of Linden’s website. More specifically, you are on the City of Linden’s new website. Even with COVID-19, the wheels of progress must continue. We have been working double time to make sure that the residents of the great City of Linden always have access to the most up to date information and are able to search, view and digest that information quickly and easily. We are proud that we are not letting the current health crisis get in the way of doing our jobs. Now more than ever, we cannot let fear get in the way of innovation. Making sure that our community stays connected is incredibly important, and we know that our City’s new website will be a contributing factor to that.

– Mayor Derek Armstead